The Online Magazine for Italian and French Classic Car Enthusiasts
A gaggle of Vespas, 175cc and 160 cc
Story by Brandes Elitch
Photos and captions by Steve Snyder
Many car shows describe themselves as a “Concours d’Elegance,” but there is only one motorcycle event in that category, and that is The Quail Motorcycle Gathering, at Quail Lodge in Carmel Valley, California. [Read more…] about The Quail Motorcycle Gathering, 2015
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Ermini 357 Sport: Mille Miglia 2010, San Quirico
Photos by Hugues Vanhoolandt
Click to enlarge
From the archives May 19,2015
Hugues Vanhoolandt
Belgian Hugues Vanhoolandt has been image-making for VeloceToday since 2007, and covered every major event from Monterey to Monaco. Below, he has gathered up 27 photos of what we call Etceterinis.
The term Etceterini may require some explanation. According to Andrea Curami in the indispensable La Sport e i suoi Artigiani (1937-1965), (The Sport and Its Artisans), there were at least 84 different constructors of small displacement racing cars to compete in the Italian National Championship races. There were many more that were simply listed as Fiat Specials, both in the 750 and 1100 cc classes. Etcetera, from which the word Etceterini is derived, means ‘and so on’ or ‘and the like’. Tacking on the ‘ini’ was a stroke of linguistic brilliance; not only were most of the artisan cars built from Fiat components and therefore somewhat like, all but seven of the 84 constructors had names that ended in a vowel such as “Stanguellini”; hence the ‘ini’. So fitting is the moniker that to try to categorize the cars by any other means seems hopeless. We believe the term was first used by an American enthusiast in California in the late 1980s. For more on this, read “The Essential Etceterini.”
In alphabetical order, with the event and year, Vanhoolandt’s Etceterinis:
Alfa Maserati Prete: Museo Mille Miglia, Brescia, 2011
Autocorse Gilco Panhard 750 Sport: Mille Miglia 2010, Urbino
Bandini 750 Siluro barchetta: Villa d\’Este 2013
Bandini 750 Sport saponetta: Museo Mille Miglia, Brescia, 2011
De Sanctis Formula Junior: RM Auction Monaco 2010
Ermini 1100 Sport: Mile Miglia 2011, Pieve Santo Stefano
Ermini sport siluro, Mille Miglia 2010, Brescia
Faccioli Formule Junior: Goodwood Revival 2010, Bonhams Sale
Giannini 750 Sport: Mille Miglia 2010, Urbino
Giaur Champion 750 (Motto): Villa Erba, Cernobbio, 2010
Gilco Fiat 1100: Mille Miglia 2011, Brescia
Monaci 8C Bimotore: Mille Miglia 2007, Buonconvento
Moretti 750: Rétromobile, Paris, 2012
Moretti 750 Grand Sport: Villa d\’Este 2012
Morettini Fiat 508 S: Mille Miglia 2011, Barberino di Mugello
Nardi Danese 1500 Sport: Mille Miglia 2007, Buonconvento
Nardi Danese Alfa Romeo: Rétromobile, Paris, 2010
Nardi-Danese 750 Boby Sport: Techno Classica Essen 2014
Patriarca 750 Sport: Mille Miglia 2010, Brescia
Stanga 750 Sport: Mille Miglia 2010, Urbino
Stanga 750 Sport: Mille Miglia 2007, Brescia
Stanguellini 1100 Bialbero Sport: Gooding Auction Monterey, 2010
Stanguellini 1100 Sport: Mille Miglia 2011, Brescia
Stanguellini Barchetta: Essen Motor Show, 2007
Taraschi Formule Junior: Monterey Reunion Laguna Seca, 2008
Taraschi-Fiat: Goodwood Revival, 2012
Mean looking 620 hp Alfa 164 Procar. And much faster than it looks..
Story and photography by Roberto Motta, archive photography by Automobilismo Storico Alfa Romeo Centro Documentazione
The history of the 164 Pro-Car has its origin in 1985, when Alfa Romeo decided to return to the Formula 1 World Championship, and the management decided that they would build a new 3.5 liter engine, which would be installed in the French F1 Ligier.
At this time, Pino D’Agostino, one of the world’s most famous engineers, was convinced that it was possible to balance a 72 degree V10 engine. He reasoned that if 8 cylinders had been the best engine in the Formula 3000, a V10 would be the best engine for the new Formula 1. After receiving the necessary authorization, in November 1985 the V10 project officially began.
Engineer D’Agostino was the head of this project and had a great team: Bodini, Bordoni, Flor, Giani, Mazzoleni, Rossetti, Teruzzi and Turina. In an amazingly short time, the Alfa Romeo V1035 (10 cylinders, 3.5 liters) engine became the first modern F1 V10 engine (Honda presented a model of the engine only one month after the introduction of the Italian V10 while Renault produced its V10 the following year).
Iso Grifo A3C impressive at this year’s Iso meet in Bresso.
Story and photos by Alessandro Gerelli
At the very beginning of the EXPO 2015 that is held in Milan from May to October, the local fansorganized an Iso Rivolta meeting in Bresso, just inside the old, now neglected factory.
As already told in VeloceToday, (“Iso Rivolta Anniversary” of 2002 see archived story), there was a dream to build an Iso museum and other attractions, but the project was delayed due to the crisis that involved the whole Italy. [Read more…] about Iso Meeting in Bresso, Italy, 2015
Thirteen years have passed since our faithful Italian correspondent Alessandro Gerelli submitted this story about the 50th anniversary meeting of Iso enthusiasts at Bresso, Italy. And what has changed?
The prices!
Iso Rivolta GT at the 2002 meet.
October 11, 2002 Iso Rivolta Anniversary
Story and photos by Alessandro Gerelli
The Iso Rivolta company was born in 1939 in Bresso, a small town just bordering Milan in the north of Italy. Iso was characterized by an amazing variety of production during its life including refrigerators and water heaters, motorbikes, small city cars, sport cars, and other sundries; most of which were manufactured after the end of WWII. The founder, Renzo Rivolta, was as interesting as the product line. He even built the factory in the park of his villa! [Read more…] about Iso Rivolta Anniversary, 2002
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Jack and Cliff Reuter in Bandini #358 at the 2010 Amelia Island Concours
By Pete Vack and Cliff Reuter
Photos courtesy Cliff Reuter
VeloceToday has been publishing articles weekly since 2001, but Cliff Reuter’s excellent site, Etceterini.com, is almost as old. “I started my first web site cliffreuter.com in 2002 as a way to connect with friends around the world (before Facebook) and then in 2005 launched Etceterini.com”, said Cliff.
In 2006, Cliff and VeloceToday shared a unique experience we found the ex-Clair “Sonny” Reuter Bandini. VeloceToday did the story and Cliff and his father Jack (no relation to Clair Reuter) rescued the car and it is now being restored. A few years later in 2010, Cliff helped organize an Etceterini show at Amelia Island Concours, and with Sportscardigest.com, we ran a series of articles and a contest for the favorite Etceterini entry at Amelia.
Etceterini.com has turned out to be the ‘go to’ site for anyone interested in SCCA racing in the 1950s and 60s. “I started my SCCA results pages in 2006 after we purchased the ex-Sandy MacArthur 1951 Bandini Siluro Motto Crosley Mercury Devin. We knew some of the history of the car but wanted to know more. I searched the Internet for 1950s SCCA results and was VERY disappointed with what I found – almost nothing. I then began going through my Father’s boxes of 1950s-60s race photos, car magazines, racing memorabilia, SCCA race programs and these yielded some very enlightening information!”
While Cliff’s site focuses on Etceterinis, all cars are included, particularly Ferraris. “I’m constantly buying and adding to this collection of American sports car racing history so keep checking back (and refreshing)! Also, PLEASE help me grow these pages by sending YOUR scans of SCCA race results, programs and articles,” said Cliff.
Jack Reuter, left, with his 330 GTO Ferrari and at right, Dick Merritt.
Cliff’s background is as interesting as his site. He is originally from St. Louis Missouri, and his mother is from Liverpool, UK. Father Jack is from St. Louis and was a passionate car enthusiast from early on. Growing up, Cliff says he “played a lot of tennis and shared my dad’s love of European cars.”
Probably the most appropriate Fiat for Brooklands Italian Car Day. This is billed as a 1905 Fiat with an Isotta Fraschini 250 hp engine. Apparently Fiat drew plans to create record car in 1905 but aborted the effort. The drawings were picked up by Mike Vardy who recreated the monster using a Gar Wood supplied I-F aero engine.
Story and 40 Photos by Jonathan Sharp
Having just returned from the annual Italian Car Day at Brooklands in Surrey (May 2-3 2015) I think they will need to come up with a new cliché to fit the event. It’s still the right crowd but as to crowding, I do not think I have seen the old place so full…Italian cars everywhere. Lamborghini’s under Concordes, Fiat 500s around the Vickers Vanguard, Alfas not just in their main display area but also spilling out along the old banking as well.
Note the chain drive which is an unusual reverse drive set up. Whichever direction, one does not wish to have the chain break at speed, which is limited to 120 mph though no doubt would go faster with a brave man.
I think I have mentioned before but this event is not just about the exotics, of which there are plenty. It’s the stuff you just do not see any more. Immaculate Mk1 Fiat Pandas rub shoulders with 850 Coupes. Fulvias behind a line of Fiat X19s. New Giuliettas next to the original models. Abarths old and new. I felt like a kid in a sweet shop, these were the cars I wanted to own back in the 1980s but could not afford them then, and with certain cars still can’t.
Brooklands is also about aircraft, so you will see some photos of significant WWII aircraft interspersed with the Fiats; we hope you don’t mind. In fact, we’ll begin with a Loch Ness Legend…
Vickers 290 Wellington MK1A N2980 R. 11,461 Vickers Wellingtons were built, 2515 of which were constructed at Brooklands. Only two Wellingtons remain and this is the only Brooklands-built example. First flown on the 16th November 1939 by Vickers chief test Pilot Mutt Summers the aircraft was then issued to 149 Squadron based at RAF Mildenhall. The aircraft took part in the infamous Heligoland Bight raid on the 18th December 1939. 22 Wellingtons took part, 11 returned. During a training flight on the 31st December 1940 she developed engine trouble and the pilot was forced ditched into Loch Ness. All of the crew managed to escape but alas the rear gunner was killed when his parachute failed to deploy. In 1976 a group of American divers searching for the Loch Ness Monster found her and she was finally returned to the surface on the 21st September 1985. After 45 years under the water she had remained in a remarkable state of preservation-even the tail lights worked when connected to a new battery.
The annual Italian car day at Brooklands just seems to make people smile!
At the 2015 edition of the Shanghai Motor Show, held from 22 – 29 April, attracted 813,000 visitors plus some 10,000 journalists to see the latest Ferrari. But is it possible that the Facebook Generation no longer needs or even wants such a vehicle?
Why Ferrari will not be beaten by Facebook (but watch out for Apple!)
By Gijsbert-Paul Berk
No, Facebook does not compete in Formula 1 races and has neither announced any intentions of building fabulous sports cars. Nevertheless Facebook, as the world’s leading social networking service, is fast becoming serious competition for the magic Italian carmaker and other auto manufacturers. This is why!
Last December Sergio Marchionne, the Chief Executive of Fiat-Chrysler group which owns Ferrari, hinted at the possibility to raise cash for his company with an IPO (Initial Public Offering) to sell 10% of Ferrari to interested shareholders. Based on the actual turnover and profit margins, independent financial analysts have calculated that Ferrari has a market value of between 5 billion and 9 billion Euros. The difference is explained by the fact that some consider Ferrari simply as a car manufacturer and others as a luxury brand, a segment in which shares fetch a premium. As everyone knows the value of shares also depends on the expectations of investors concerning future profits.
Who needs one anyway?
For many generations automobiles were a symbol for freedom to travel and meet friends and family. But Internet and ‘social networking services’ provide the Z generation with alternatives.
Launched only 11 years ago, Facebook now has an estimated market value of nearly 225 billion USD (roughly 193 Euros). That is at least nearly 22 times the market value of the valiant Italian carmaker, officially established in 1947 but whose origins go back to 1929, when founder Enzo Ferrari established the Scuderia Ferrari in Modena. However, that is not all.
Another thought provoking fact is that a high percentage of students in the 17 to 23 years age group, are no longer very interested in owning a car. At least that is the conclusion of surveys in several countries in industrialized Western world.
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Reunited in the same image (and now in the same VW group), the car of the people and the car of the Kings, the VW Beetle and the Bugatti Royale.
Story and photos by Hugues Vanhoolandt
More than 190,000 visitors attended the 27th edition of Techno Classica in Essen, Germany, making it once again the biggest indoor classic car show on earth, despite the competition from the more recent Stuttgart Retro Classics show.
More than 2,500 classic cars were on sale and 1,250 exhibitors were on stage as well as 220 clubs. Of course, as we are in Germany, the offers of local dealers mainly concentrated on Porsche 356s or 911s as well as Mercedes 300 SL or 190 SL. But the demand on Italian classics remains as strong as the prices.
As ever, the local German manufacturers took the opportunity to show their heritage and every German make had special displays celebrating model or racing victory anniversaries like 30 years of the Porsche 959 and the BMW 3 series or 60 years since the Mercedes-Benz victory in the Mille Miglia.
Mercedes-Benz also focused its exhibition on aerodynamic research through the ages. But enough speeches, let’s see a selection of what was not to miss in Essen.
Based on the popular Alfa Romeo 1900, this coupé was built in 1957 by the Swiss coachbuilder Ghia-Aigle on a design by Giovanni Michelotti. Only five examples were built.
This year marks the 60th anniversary of the legendary victory of Moss and Jenkinson onboard their Mercedes 300 SLR at the 1955 Mille Miglia. In perfect weather conditions, they established a record average of 97.90 mph that remained unbeaten.